Side Return Extension Projects: 27 Inspiring Side Extension Ideas & Advice

4. London Home Upgraded with a Sensitive Rear and Side Extension

Oliver Leech Architects have transformed this Victorian house, set within a conservation area in Herne Hill. The sensitive project involved a revision of the home’s layout, simplifying the interior spaces while embracing light, volume and natural materials.

Photo: Jim Stephenson

The redesign involved replacing a network of small, disconnected rooms with a stepped rear and side extension containing a social, open-plan kitchen-living-dining area. The exterior comprises Con Mosso bricks, covered in a lime slurry to achieve a soft, stone-like textured finish.

Photo: Jim Stephenson

These are carried through to the garden steps and planters to create a seamless result, while a wildflower green roof atop the addition enhances the urban home’s connection to nature.

5. Terraced House with a Light-Filled Side Return Extension

The owners of this Victorian terraced house thought that their property’s split levels were a negative aspect of the design. MW Architects, however, was confident in this feature’s potential to connect the kitchen, living and dining spaces, opening up the lower and ground floor zones to create a dramatic yet functional family home.

Photo: French + Tye

The rear side return was extended at the garden level to create a spacious kitchen-dining area that opens to the patio area through steel heritage-style glazed doors.

Photo: French + Tye

Colourful kitchen units climb up through the rear void and become storage for the study, positioned in a mezzanine area above which looks out over the front of the house and the garden.

6. Contemporary Victorian Terrace Upgraded with a Small Side Extension

Frank and Paloma Gilks viewed around 30 properties before they found the perfect fit for their next renovation project. On a whim, Frank visited a real estate agency in West Kensington, who showed him a rundown Victorian house that he had been struggling to shift.

Due to structural issues, caused by the attic water tank exploding, it was considered unmortgageable, “Parts of the roof had rotted and caved in,” Frank explains. Despite this, the property had heaps of potential and the couple were confident that they could improve the structure and transform the home.

Photo: Simon Maxwell

As a result of the pandemic, the couple faced financial setbacks and needed to save money, which meant they chose to complete the loft work as a shell that could be kitted out later. They also decided to only replace the timber sash windows at the front of the house, leaving the originals in place at the rear.

Photo: Simon Maxwell

After seven months, the house was complete with a contemporary small side extension and was move-in ready. Light-filled, free-flowing and decked out with gorgeous period features, the interior allows the history of the building to do all the talking.

7. Light-Filled Side Return Extension to a London Home

This urban Victorian terraced house in North London has undergone a complete internal and external transformation, thanks to Neil Dusheiko Architects. The east-facing kitchen-diner had previously suffered from poor daylight due to its position one level down from the street and disconnected layout.

Photo: Tim Crocker & Agnese Sanvito

The practice therefore moved the home’s linking staircase to form a stronger bond between the living and dining spaces while making room for a sloping glazed void to ensure daylight can filter through the whole house.

Photo: Tim Crocker & Agnese Sanvito

The rear and side return extension’s bifold doors mean the open-plan kitchen zone can be completely opened up to the garden patio. The exterior’s shape remains in keeping with the original home’s architecture, but with a cumaru timber facade characterising the double-storey outrigger.

8. Glass Box Side Return Extension

The owners of this property briefed Paul Archer Design to carry out a full house refurbishment that would support their growing family. The existing house already featured a tired side return extension and a galley kitchen. The latter was knocked through to create one open-plan space to connect the kitchen, dining and living rooms.

Photo: Helen Cathcart

The side return extension’s glazing projects out beyond the rear facade to form a glass snug with minimal sightlines that helps create the sense of being outside while relaxing inside. A large pivot door leads out onto the patio from the kitchen to continue the strong connection to the garden and form an overall contemporary design.

9. Side Extension with Heritage-Style Glazed Doors

Pink hues and natural materials feature in this mid-terraced house remodel in North Kensington, London.

Photo: Stale Eriksen

Designed by Oliver Leech Architects, the side return roof extension features wood fins that reach down from a long stretch of overhead glazing.

Photo: Stale Eriksen

The style matches the timber beams in an additional rear extension. Unpainted plaster and exposed steelwork add to the raw, yet homely feel of the kitchen-diner.

10. Kitchen-Diner Side Return Extension with a Glass Roof

When drawing up your side extension ideas, it’s important to make note of where you can maximise light. Architects Holland Green transformed this once-redundant side return into a luxurious kitchen space with an exciting glazed roof from IQ Glass.

Photo: Claire Williams

The glazed kitchen extension’s feature roof extends beyond 7m in length, allowing constant daylight to enter the space to create an open-feeling family zone that’s never dull or dark.

The project also makes use of three track glazed doors, also from IQ Glass, with slim sightlines of 21mm. These boast an unbroken threshold to create an awe-inspiring seamless transition between the house and garden.

11. Colourful Kitchen-Diner Side Extension Idea

These homeowners set out to transform their urban property’s dark, narrow kitchen-diner while adding a touch of personality to the space. The design, by Mel Architect, involved building into the property’s unused side return – creating a large, light-filled open-plan zone with a glazed lean-to roof.

Photo: Emily Marshall

The family were after a place they could socialise and relax in with friends and enjoy at all times of day. The previous outrigger blocked any views out to the garden, so the project sought to both enhance the link between indoor and outdoor spaces and allow light to pour into the home. The interior features bespoke timber kitchen cabinets by Johnathan Currie and was designed in collaboration with Palmer & Stone.

Photo: Emily Marshall

The arch-shaped glazing, specified with bright-red frames, references the nearby houses, while the variegated brick exterior adds a traditional charm.

12. Seamless Side Return Extension Project

This large Victorian property had previously been refurbished on the upper floors but retained a cramped and uninspiring kitchen that wasn’t fit for the family.

The space was transformed by Hawksmoor Construction through an expanded full-length rear and side return extension, finished with pitched glazing and full-width doors from 1st Folding Sliding Doors.

Photo: Chris Snook

A classic herringbone wooden floor gives a timeless feel and, out in the garden, patio clay pavers are laid in the same pattern to provide a seamless transition.

13. Bright & White Statement Side Extension

In this small side extension by CAN, a stretch of rooflights over the new addition to the Victorian terrace helps to bring natural light deep into the home.

Photo: Jim Stephenson

Paired with bright white walls, ceilings and window frames, the interiors feel light and airy. Outside, blue stripes jot out from the original wall (also painted white) to create a colourful focal point.

Photo: Jim Stephenson

14. Open-Plan Kitchen-Diner Side Extension Idea

A mix of sliding doors and fixed glazing allow the back wall of this extension by Plus Rooms to be fully glass, and follow the slant of the roof.

Three large roof windows help natural light to penetrate deep into the heart of the London terraced house. The extended space includes a bright turquoise kitchen, as well as dining and lounge areas.

15. Colourful & Contemporary Small Side Extension

Pink window frames and cork walls feature inside and outside in this project by Nimtim Architects.

A fixed window reaches up into the apex of the addition, with rooflights running down the side return (some openable for ventilation). A glazed pivot door adds a wow connection to the garden.

16. Traditional-Style Side Return Extension

Multiple rooms have been combined with a side extension to create an open-plan kitchen diner at the back of this North London mid-terrace house. The design by A2 Studio features a run of worktops (plus the cooker) positioned below rooflights.

Keeping the bay window at the rear maintains a period feel to the newly extended room, while a glazed door off the side return brings light and access.

17. Side Extension Idea with Strong Indoor-Outdoor Connection

Narrow 20mm frames in the sliding doors by IDSystems bring a strong indoor-outdoor connection to this side return extension.

Photo: Chris Taylor Photography

A lean-to glass roof in the side return helps to bring in maximum daylight, while a mix of feature lighting and spotlights provide artificial illumination.

Photo: Chris Taylor Photography

18. Light-Filled Kitchen-Diner Side Return Extension

It’s popular for dining spaces to be positioned below rooflights in a side extension project. In this wraparound extension by Buildteam, 28m² has been added to the house.

Bench seating has been built into the wall to maximise space in the galley area to the side of the kitchen. White walls and hanging plants bring a bright and fresh feel to the space.

19. Side Return Transformed with Frameless Glazing

Building into the side return has brought a new lease of life to this narrow side return in thanks to the project by Rise Design Studio.

An expansive rooflight follows along the side return and down the rear elevation to give a frameless glass illusion to the extension. Another rooflight further into the depth of the house brings extra daylight to the heart of the property.

20. Small Side Extension Idea with Colourful Cladding

Bespoke scalloped blocks cast from red pigmented concrete create a colourful exterior in this small side return extension by Office S&M.

Photo: Megan Taylor

The design is a contemporary take on details from the front of the Victorian terrace house. Floor-to-ceiling glazing and two glazed doors bring light inside, aided by rooflights over the side return.

21. Wraparound Side Return Extension Idea

Designed by Studio Ort, this wraparound extension features sliding doors and a large rooflight positioned deep into the property to illuminate the walkway from the original part of the house through to the new extension.

Natural wood tones on the doors and the kitchen cabinets work alongside the white walls and worktops to create a calm and serene environment.

22. Innovative Glazed Link Side Extension Idea

The side return in this property has been used in an inventive way thanks to a clever design by Matthew Giles Architects.

The space features an angled glazed atrium and small courtyard, which provides natural light and garden views through to the front room. At the back of the house a large rear and side extension features ample glass and modern details.

23. Industrial-Style Kitchen Diner Side Return Extension

The steel support in this wraparound rear and side return extension by BetterPad Architects has been painted black to bring an industrial edge to the project.

This is complemented by the exposed brick wall and the black frames to the sliding doors and rooflights. A concrete floor adds to the industrial feel , while deep blue kitchen cabinets give a modern finish.

24. Stylish Side Return Extension with Picture Windows

What appears to be an original window opening that would have looked out onto the side return adds a fun touch to this extension by Archer & Braun.

Photo: David Barbour

The team worked with a local picture framer to create bespoke black walnut and oak surrounds for different window-sized openings. The side extension’s scheme also shows off the home’s original brickwork.

Photo: David Barbour

25. Contemporary Rear & Side Extension Project

A glazed extension to the rear and side of this Victorian terrace has created a light-filled kitchen diner.

Photo: Fraser Marr

“Whilst I prefer more traditional elements, my Australian husband likes modern, clean design. Having grown up in an outdoors environment, he enjoys how the use of glass at the back helps connect with nature without feeling the cold British winter,” says Build It reader and homeowner Kirsty Sanders.

26. Period Home Upgraded with a Rear & Side Return Extension

Housing a kitchen, living area and small gymnasium, this rear period home side return extension combines the traditional Edwardian brick features with modern flush metal cladding and glazing. The project was masterminded by Smerin Architects.

Photo: Lyndon Douglas

The slim-framed glazing and grey finishes help to deliver a light-touch aesthetic, allowing the character of the original building to shine through. Where the glazed elevations step back, a small south facing sitting area is formed, with a retractable canopy over the terrace.

27. Side Return Extension with Bifold Doors

In this side return extension project by Plus Rooms, the kitchen has been opened up to finish flush with the rear wall, whilst preserving the rest of the garden.

Photo: Lyndon Douglas

The pitched roof allows for multiple skylights to let in as much natural light as possible, and creates a zoning effect internally that breaks up the dining and living areas.